§ LORD OGMOREasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the present strengths in officers and other ranks of the South Wales Borderers and of the Welch Regiment; what will be the authorised strength in officers and other ranks of the Royal Regiment of Wales at its inauguration on June 11, 1969; what options will be open to those officers and other ranks, now members of the South Wales Borderers and of the Welch Regiment, who will be surplus to the establishment of the Royal Regiment of Wales; and, if Her Majesty's Government intend to post surplus officers and other ranks to other regiments, to what particular regiment, or regiments it is intended to post them.
186WA
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)On March 1, 1969, the strengths were as follows:
Officers Soldiers 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers 33 554 1st Battalion Welch Regiment 28 588 There were also 68 officers of these regiments serving in appointments outside their battalions.
The establishment of 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales will be 32 officers and 591 soldiers. Officers who cannot serve with the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales will serve with other Regiments of the Prince of Wales's Division, on the Staff or in other appointments. If they wish they may apply for transfer to other Divisions or Corps. Soldiers in the two regiments not selected for the new regiment, have been given the choice of either serving with another regiment within the Prince of Wales's Division or being transferred to other Divisions or Corps.
This amalgamation will lead to some redundancy of officers and soldiers in The Prince of Wales's Division as a whole.
House adjourned at six minutes before nine o'clock.